Vasher knocked out with new hand injuries

Thursday

Nathan Vasher’s newest hand injuries have sidelined the Bears’ cornerback for Sunday night’s NFC North first-place showdown at Minnesota, and probably for the season

Nathan Vasher’s newest hand injuries have sidelined the Bears’ cornerback for Sunday night’s NFC North first-place showdown at Minnesota, and probably for the season.

Vasher missed three games earlier this year with injuries to his right wrist and thumb. He suffered a new fracture in that hand last week in St. Louis and re-aggravated the thumb injury.

Coach Lovie Smith said Vasher wouldn’t be put on injured reserve, which would make him ineligible to play again this season. But Smith also didn’t sound hopeful of a return.

“Whenever you have a fracture and you re-injure the same hand you had trouble with, you can go from there,” Smith said. “Right now, I just know he’s out this week.”

Vasher missed all but four games because of a groin injury last year and had not been playing up to his 2005 Pro Bowl level this year. Vasher had 16 interceptions his first three years, earning the nickname “The Interceptor.” But he has had only two the last two years and split time the last couple of weeks with Corey Graham.

“He was injured a few times,” Smith said. “It’s hard to get into the flow when that happens.”

Graham, a second-year, fifth-round draft choice, now becomes a full-time starter. When Vasher was healthy, Graham had been playing nickel back or alternating on the outside with Vasher.

“If I get to play more, that’s great,” Graham said, “but I’ve been playing already. It’s not like it’s a big difference. I was already getting the opportunity, now I’ll just get a few more reps.

“Nathan’s a big play-maker. He intercepts a lot of passes. He’s a big-time corner. You don’t want to lose a guy like that. I will just come in and do the best I can.”

Graham has been Chicago’s most pleasant defensive surprise this year. He had 33 tackles starting the three games that Vasher missed, but the Bears lost when he had a career-high 12 tackles against the Falcons and gave up 41 points in a 48-41 win over the Vikings when he had 11 tackles and an interception.

“I was happy that I went out there and did my job,” Graham said, “but when you are not winning games or the defense is not playing good as a whole, you can’t take too much satisfaction out of it.”

Smith said he had confidence in both Graham and Trumaine McBride, another second-year, low-round (seventh) draft choice who has played well in spot duty, Sunday when the Bears (6-5) and Vikings (6-5) play for the NFC North lead.

“It’s still hard when you lose a starter,” Smith added, “but it’s a long year. Injuries happen.”

Graham said he’s more prepared to step in now than he was earlier in the season.

“The more you watch film, the more you learn offenses,” Graham said. “And the more you learn what the defense is trying to accomplish. When you know what everyone else is doing, it helps you play a lot faster.”